Incubator



4 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1929. w. F. HILLPOT INCUBATOR 1 Filed July 5, 1927 om @n bm. mw AN ,9s

Oct. 22, 1929. w. F. HlLLPoT INGUBATOR Filed July 5. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MW mw, n

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ocr. 22, 1929.

w. F. HILLPOT 1,732,891

INCUBATOR v Filed Jul'y 5, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 3 FIGM cLZZ, 1929. w F HILLPT 1,732,891.

INCUBATOR Filed July 5. 1927 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Oct. 22, 1929 'i p WILLIAM FINNEY n rLLroT, or'raENonroWN, NEW JERSEY INCUIBATOR y It is the object of my invention to provide means for supporting eggs, during the period. of incubation thereof, in such manner that the 'eggs may be repeatedly turned, at intervals, n in simulation of the turning movements nat` urally 'imparted to such eggs by the mother birds, and in such environment as to afford the desired degree of. warmth during. such period, While maintaining the eggs in such relo lation to each other that-'they may be individually inspected at any time.r

Myimprovements are particularly applicable to incubators of the class disclosed in Letters Patent of tlie United States granted to me and res tively No. 1,489,597 dated April 8, 1924, and No. 1,545,425 dated July 7 1925; in that the egg supports are suspended l upon endlessflexible connectors, conveniently chain belts, so that such supports may be shifted to positions of inclination in different directions, with consequentschanges in position ,of the eggs carried thereby, and may be shifted by said belts from a region of charge to a region of discharge of the eggs, as distin uished from incubators of the prior art in Whlch it is necessary to (manually remove and replace the eggs with respect tp supports upon which they rest in successive steps froml the region vof charge to the region of disi 33 charge.

,l As hereinafter described, I find it convenh ient to provide'egg supporting means including trays which are rectangular frames open at the top but covered at the bottom with 35 ,foraminous material, such as insect Wire screening; each of said tra s having, at 0p-` posite ends thereof, axia ly alined pivot means in eccentric relation' to the center of gravity'of the tray and adapted to engage in in links of the chain belts so that eachl of the trays is normally overbalanced to one side, so

as to assume a position of inclination in that direction, unless otherwise detained, and II provide means for temporarily detaining each tray, in the opposite position of inclination,.a'ganst the gravitative effect of its overbalancing aforesaid. Of course, allowance must be made, in the area of such egg trays, for Ithe fact that eggs are of different sizes as 0 Well as to afford sufficient space to' permit the eggs in the trays.

rWhich the trays are balanced upon pivotal -of equilibrium of the tray `and its contents w) lApplication led July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,460.

aforesaid turning movement of the eggs. Consequently, it is practically impossible to maintain the eggf trays balanced upon central pivots owingto the displacement of the The elect of my improved construction and arrangement is that each tray rests stably in either position of inclination, as distinguislied from devices of the prior art in connections extending coaXially in planes coincident with the center of gravity of the trays; so that the latter may be accidentally tilted in either direction by such disturbancesV incident to irregularities in the placement of `theeggs in the trays. As hereinafter described; such egg trays are suspended in tiers in vertical columns or groups supported by chains at opposite ends of the trays. 7o

An adjunctive feature of my invention is that means are `provided for contemporaneously shifting a plurality 'of such vertical tiers of trays. Moreover, such means connecting the groups of trays for contemporaneous movement may be automatically and chronologically controlled; so that each tray may-be automatically progressed from the position in which afresh egg. is placed therein to the position in which a chick is hatched therefrom and fready to be discharged. As herein after described, such control mechanism may include al pendulum.

My invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more denitely specified.

The method of and meanskfor circulating air in an incubator to and from a chamber beneath a false floor, as described herein, are the subject matter of my divisional application Serial No. 357,(,511 filed April 24, 1929, for Letters Patent of the United States.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a lon itudinal sectional view of an incubator conveniently embodying my improvement. l

Fig. II is a transverse sect-ionalview of said incubator, taken on the line II, II in Fig. I, in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. III is a horizontal plan sectional View taken on the line III, III in Figs. 1 and 1 1, 10o' III showing one of the egg trays at the upper portion of Fig. III

such trays are supported for simultaneous movement.,

F ig. V is afragmentary verticall sectional view of the upper left hand corner of the incubator structure shown inV Fig. II showing an elevation of the tray supporting sha-ft and wheels indicated iii Fig. V.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary end elevation of the right hand end of the tray shown in Fig. IV `and showing the configuration of the hook ends ofthe pivotal tray support.

In said ligures; the rectangular incubator inclosure comprises the frontwall 1 provided with the door 2 which is conveniently hinged at 3. Both said front wall and the rear wall 5 are'conveniently provided with fresh air inlet ports 6 controlled by respective valves 7, but said rear wall may be otherwiseimperforate, as shown, or may have a-door similar to the door 2. The opposite side walls 8 and 9, ofthe incubator inclosure, may be imperforate, exceptfor series ofair vents 10 and l1 which are disposed at convenient intervalsthroughout the length thereof andre spectively controlled by valves 12 and 13. The ceiling 15, supported by said four walls 1, 5, 8, and 9, may be imperforate as indicated. I find it convenient'to form the floor 16 of said incubator inclosure of boards extending above a base compartment or cellar 17 and supported by transversely extending joists 18 resting upon sills. 19 respectively adjoining said walls 8 and 9 and supported intermediate of the width kof the inclosure by blocks 20. Said floor is of less width than said inclosure so as to afford air passageways 22 along'the opposite side walls 8 and 9, and said floor is provided, intermediate of its width, with two doors 23, having respective air ports 24 each covered with a removable grill 25. Said doors cach supportqanelectric fan 26 arranged to progress air through said ports 24. k

l Said front wall 1 is conveniently formed of vertical wooden studs 27 connected by double sills 28 and the single cap member 29 and the lintel 30 for the doorway for said door 2. The rear wall is conveniently formed of vertical studs 31 connected by double sills 32 and the single cap' member 33. Said ceiling 15 is conveniently formed of longitudinal joists 35 connected by transverse timbers 36 lrespectively above said walls 1 and 5, and by intermediate timbers 37, as indicated in Fig. I.

The wall frames above described are sheathed inside` and outside with comparatively thin sheetimaterial 39 such as the artificial lumber known as celoteX, (which is a web of compressed matted cane fibers) and inclosc heat insulating material 40 such as comminuted cork.

with the shaft and sprocketwheels by which a vertical series of- Intermediate of the width yof said incubator structure, a pair of 'timber stringers 42 are suspended in parallel spaced relation by bolts 43 extending through the intermediate ceil ing timbers 37 and provided with nuts 44. Said stringers 42 support; in suspension from the ceiling 15, the frame 45 comprising vertical hangers 46, disposed in indicated in Figs. I and III, and connected by the longitudinal frame members 47 indicated in Figs. II and III. d

As indicated in FigsIV and V, said longitudinal frame members 47 are rails supportingthe bearings 50 for the tray supporting shafts5l, which have their opposite ends journaled in the bearings 52 supported by the rails 53 which extend parallel with said rails 47..

The location of said shafts 51 with reference to the respective tiers of trays 60 is indicated by the axial dash lines in Fig. III; the latter being a view taken below theplane of said shafts and the mechanism appurtenant thereto. Each of said shafts 51 has, rigidly connected therewith, one sprocket chain wheel 55 and one sprocket chain wheel 56; carrying the tray supporting endless chains 57 and 58, which are. respectively pendent at opposite ends of groups of twelve trays 60, arrangedin tiers in a vertical column.

Each of said trays 60 includes a rectangular frame, open at the top and closed at the kbottom with a web of foraminous material .61 such as insect wlre screening held in place by wooden strips 62 and 63. Each of said trays has, at opposite ends thereof, pivot plates 65 rigidly connected therewith, conveniently by bolts 66 and nuts 67. vSaid plates 65 have double hook members 68, forming bottom hook rccesses 69 for pivotal engagement with the respective chains 57 1 and 58. The upper hook recesses 70 receive the cross bars of the chain links in such manner as to limit the tilting movement of the trays upon the cross barsof said chains which are engaged in said recesses 69; when such tilting movement is clockwise with reference to Fig. VI.. Each of the trays 60 has its aXisNof oscillation upon said chains 57 and 58, (which axis is indicated by the dash line 72 in-Fig. IV,) in eccentric relation to the center of gravity of the tray, so that the latter is overbalanced to tilt clockwise with reference to Fig. VI when free to do so. However, the tilting movement of said trays is controlled by roviding each of said shafts 51 with a sproeliet wheel 73, which may be turned thereon but which is prevented from axial displacement by the collar 74 lixed on said shaft, as indicated in Fig. IV, in opposition to the -chain wheel 55. Each of said sprocket wheels 73 carries a tray tilting endless chain 75; so that there is one such tilting chain for each column of trays 60 and detachably engaged with the latter by respective hinge plates 76 which are hingedly the spaced relation f wise with reference to Fig. VI, is limited connected withsaid pivot plates by respective bpintles 77. Said plates 76 have double hook members 78 forming bottom hook recesses 79 and upper hook recesses 8() for engagement with the cross bars of the links of said cha-ins 7 5 as indicated in Figs. IV and VI.' The'tilting movement ofthe trays 60'upon said chains 75, counter-clockbythe hook members 78 encountering the cross bars of said chains. Said hinge meni-l bers 7 6- are hingedly connected with the trays 60 so as to permit the chains 75 connected therewith to be spread apart., as far as possible, to permit the insertion and removal of the trays with respect to their assembled position indicated in Fig. I. However, the normal position of each hingemeniber 76 is tliatindic'ated in Figs..IV and The construction and arrangement above described are such that it is onlyl necessary to use said tilting chains to tilt the trays 60 clockwise with `reference to,Fig.`VI and, when thus tilted, said chains may be temporarily-,detained withthe trays in that position by the friction rings 82 which are axially `adj ustable by the screws 83on said wheels 73 and frictionally engage the wheels 55.

The tilting movements ofsaid trays are limited by the relation of the chains to the pivot plates.- The frame members 84 are connectedwith the opposite side walls 8 and 9 by cross bars 85 indicated in Figs. I and II, and are rigidly connected with vertical partition members 86, forming series of tray compartments 87 as indicated in Fig. I, and

' and having horizontal shelf flanges 88 to receive trays 60 which are removed from the supporting chains 57 and 5 8 and placed in said compartments 87, when the eggs therein are about to hatch; so that the hatching is ,conveniently eifect-edy near the floor of, the

incubator where the chicks .may be conveniently handled. Said shelf flanges 88 are so spaced vertically as to receive two trays 60 between them, the upper tray being empty and invertedso as to form, with the lower tray, a cage preventing theescape of the hatched chicks until the covering tray is manually removed.

' Said chains 57 and 58 are arranged to be progressed by rotation of said shafts 51, counter-clockwise with reference to Fig. I, so as to, lower said'trays 60 from the top to the bottom of each column suspended by said, chains. Such progression ot' the trays may be effected intermittently or continuously and, in either case," the operation of the chains 7 5 may be so timed with respect tothe movements of the chains 57 and 58, that the move- 'l nient of the latter, with the chains 7 5 engaged with their Wheels 73 fiictionally held rigid on the shafts 5l, tilts the trays V60 counterclockwise with reference to Figs I and IV- .is above described; so that it is only necessary to move the chains 7 5 once for every two complete tilting movements of the trays.

In the form of my invention indicated in Figs.- I, IV and V; I have provided each of said shafts 51 with a sprocket gear 89, which is similar to thesprockt gear 55, but which engages an endless claii 90, indicated in Fig. I, which is common to such gears 89 on the twelve shafts 51 arranged upon one side of y the incubator and thus connectsthat series of shafts for contemporaneous control by said single chain 90. The arrangement above described is such that the weight of the trays '60 in the respective columns tends to turn each of the shafts51 counter-clockwise with reference to Fig. I, and I lind it convenient to control such tendency by providing one of the shafts 51 with an extension 91 journaled in 'the bracket 92 on the timber 93 and provided with the worm gear 94, which is rigidly connected with that shaft 51 and engaged by the Worin 96 which is iournaled in 'said bracket 92 and provided with the thrust bearing .97 surrounding its shaft 98,

the. lower .end of which is squared at 99 or otherwise adapted to receive a wrench by which saidworni 96 may be manually turned, at intervals, t'o permit said trays 60 to gravitatively progress downward with their chains 57 and 58 toward the compartments 87 in which the chicks are to be hatched. d

As indicated in Fig. III, the columns of 58 are arranged in similar series upon opposite sides of the central corridor in which the said trays 60 suspended by the chains 57 and operator may manipulate the trays and chains as above described.

The construction and arrangement above described are such that trays 60 containing fresh eggs may be hooked into engagement with thechains 57 and 58 at the top of the advantageously employed ,to effect what is known as stade incubation in which eggs in various stages of incubation are contein- I poraneously present in the'incubator, with.

the effect that l the incubator ,may be used to hatch chicks every dayinstead Aof at intervals of the gestation. period 'of twenty-one days and with the advantage thatychicks thus produced are more readilymarlreted'.

' The chains 57 and 58 being free from trays 60; oneY or two trays containing freshi-eggs, preferably with their longitudinal axes substantially vertical and the smaller ends of the y .eggs downward, may be suspended at the tori of each of the twenty-four rcolumns; each instance, the trays Then he shafts ing the trays counter-clockwise tray being overbalanced, clockwise, and tilted as shown in broken lines at the upper left hand part of Fig. I, so that each egg is tilted toward the right. IEach tray is preferably tilted in the oppositel direction, at intervals of six or eight hours. Such tilting may be effected, without turning movement of the shafts 51, by pulling down upon the portion of each chain 7 5 not engaged with the hinge plate 76, to the limiting angle permitted by the latter, andeach tray is detained in such position by the friction rings or other suitable means. After remaining at the same elevation for a time, said trays 60 may be lowered by counter-clockwise movement of the shafts 51, effected by manually turning the worm shaft 98 local to each 'group of twelve columns of trays. Such lowering movement of the trays may be so timed asv to effect the tilting movement of the trays previously suspended in the chains 57 and 58, without manipulation of the tilting chains 75. For may be allowed to remain tilted as shown in broken lines in I, for a period of six or eight hours. 51 may be turned, bodily lowering the trays by their supporting chains 57, while their right hand edges are prevented from lowering by pivotal connection with the chains 75 which remain stationary; thus tiltstationar Flg.

slant downward to the 4left. After remaining in that position'for six or eight hours, the chainsv 75 may be moved to againv tilt the trays clockwise, until they slope downward y toward the right, without turning movement of the shafts'51 or lowering movement of the chains 57.-

The operation above described may be repeated, and trays containing fresh eggs added at'the topk of each coluinn, .at suitable intervals, until the eggs in the lowermost trays suspended in the chains 57 and 58, are ready7 to hatch. Thereupon, trays may be removed them to prevent from thechains and placed in the compartments 87, with empty trays inverted over the escape of the chicks. Of course, the removal of the lowermost trays may beeffected at one of the intervals of time at which trays containing fresh eggs have been inserted at the tops of the columns; so that the apparatus is operated with a predetermined regularity or rhythm of steps in the incubating process.

When the eggs inthe trays in the compartments .87 have beenhatched; those trays may be withdrawn from said compartments and the chicks removed therefrom for shipment and the shell dbris discarded.

I find it convenient to thus operate said incubator by the addition and subtraction'of two traysfper 'day withrespect toeach column; so that the contents of forty-eight trays f are hatched every day instead of the contents of two hundred andeighty-eight trays being until they hatched at intervals of twenty-one days, as would be the case if all of the trays were contemporaneously charged with fresh eggs.

However, I do not desire to limit myself to the specific'method of incubation above described, as it is obvious that the incubator aforesaid may be otherwise used.

The fans 26 are operated, preferably continuously, during the incubating operation to agitate the air within the incubator inclosure and introduce fresh air at such a rate as is most efficient for the purpose of incubation. The rate of admission of fresh air may e variably determined by controlling the effective area of the fresh air inlet ports 6, by the valves 7, and the escape of foul air may be effected by coordinate control of the effective area of the air vents 10 and 11 by the respective valves 12 and 13.

It is to be particularly noted that said fans 26 are preferably so operated as to draw the air upwardly ,through the ports 24 in tlie doors 23, thus creating a partial vacuum below said doors, inducing the infiow of fresh air through the ports 6 and subjecting the air to pressure throughout the other portions of the incubator inclosure, so that it has a tendency to escape from said vents 10 and 11 along the side walls 8 and 9 of the incubator.

The air thus agitated in the incubator inclosure, is forced downwardly with respect to the twenty-four columns of trays 60 as it 1s discharged upon opposite sides of the frame 45 in its distribution through the openings between the vertical hangers 4 6, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. III and, bemgv forced downward through the passageways 22 along the opposite side walls 8 and 9; the major portion thereof, which does not escape through said vents 10 and 11, returns horizontally beneath said fioor 16, to the fans 26, to be recirculated upwardly through the ports 24 in the doors 23, mixed with more or fless fresh air drawn in through the inlet ports 6, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. II.

I have found it preferable to thus circulate the air downwardly between the eggs in the trays 60 because the hatched chicks at the bottom of the tiers of trays shed a considerable quantity of flocculent down which is discharged to the fioor 16 and carried into the corridor by the fiow of air in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. II. If the air were circulated in the reverse' direction, such fiocculent material would be carried upward from the trays at the bot-tom of the incubating chamber against the screening of the superimposed trays with the effect of clogging the latter and obstructingthe circulation of air therethrough..

As it is necessary to subject the eggs to a temperature of from 99 to 103 F., during the incubation thereof ,-.it is necessary to prolll yvidelmean's toA warm the atmosphere in which prefer to provide a steam pipe 118, beneath for environment of the eggs in the earlier stages of incubationgas the eggs in the preliminary stages of incubation absorb heat and the eggs in the later stages of incubation generate heat; incidentally absorbing mois-x 6, by means exterior to the incubator inclosure illustrated, or by the'location of hot water or steam pipes 117 beneath said floor 16 as indicated in Fig. II,.or otherwise. MbreOVer, it is desirable to providemeans to variably determine the humidity of the atmosphere inthe incubator inclosure and I said floor 16, as indicated in Fig. I, with minute orifices controlled by valves 120 through which steam may be permitted to escape and mix with the air passing to the fans 26.

However, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and ar l rangement or method of procedure herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without de` parting from the essential features of my invention, as delined in the appended claims. For instance, the trays and their contents may be lowered by automatic means in lieu of the manually operative escapement comtial features of my invention herein disclosed; particularly egg tray supportingv mechanism comprising an endless chain used for tilting the trays in conjunction with endless chain supports for the trays. However, it is to be noted that in the specilic form of my invention shown in said copendirig application, each tray is adapted to be engaged with the supporting chains and tilting chain upon the same side bf the shaft from which the chains are suspended; whereas, in. the

specilic form of my invention chosen for illustration herein, the trays are adapted to be lill tti

connected with the supporting j'chains andv tilting chain respectively upon opposite sides of the supporting shaft; wlth a consequently diderent operation and edect. Moreover, in said copending application, the trays are only prevented from tilting to one extreme'of their 'mpvement f angagement lwith a stationary detent for eac tier of trays whereas, in the form 'of my invention hereiny `set forth, no such independent detent means isrequired but the' trays are heldin any position to which they are tilted by the. friction rings local to their supporting shafts. Furthermore, in the form of my invention shown in said copending application; the egg tra s are arranged in two groups upon respective y opposite sides of a central corridor in" the inclosure; which groups are oppositely counterpart; so that the trays intended for use upon oppositelsides of said corridor are respectively dili'erent as to the location of the chain engaging plates thereon. On the contrary, in the embodiment of my invention herein shown; all of the vtrays may be alike in the loca-tion of the plates thereon for engagement with the cha-ins. That is to say, with reference to Fig. III, any of the trays 60 maybe removed from either side of the central corridor and be positioned for placing in the opposite side of the corridor, by turning it 180 in a horizontal plane. Of course, the arrangement herein disclosed is advantageous in facilitating the manipulation of the eggs with respect to their supports in the incubator.

.I claim:

1. In an incubator, the combination with a series of egg trays; of a pair of tray supporting endless belts at respective ends of said trays; means for independently detachably pivotally mounting each tray upon said belts; a third, tray tilting, endless belt; and means for detachably engaging each of said trays with said third belt; whereby contemporaneous' movement of said three belts contemporaneously progresses and edects tilting movement of a plurality of: egg trays, and

movement of said third belt, in the opposite direction with reference to thesother belts, eiiects reverse tilting movement of said trays without interfering with the progression of said trays by such other belts.

2. In an incubator as in claim 1; means including a rotary shaft land wheels carried by saidv shaft; said tray supporting belt wheels being fixed on said shaft, and said tray tilting belt wheel being movable on said shaft.

8. In an incubator, mechanism constructed and arranged to progress egg trays in an incubator from a region of introduction to a region of discharge, and to tilt the eggs at intervals during such progression, including a shaft; a pair ofl belt wheels fixed on said shaft; a pair of tray supporting endless belts engaged with and pendent from said wheels respectively at the ends of said trays; a third belt wheel, movable on saidshaft; a tray ltilting endless belt engaged with "and pendent f from. said ,third beltvvheel; a series of egg trays having means at each end thereof arranged to pivotally engage said supporting belts and means), arranged .to pivotally engage said tilting b lt., respectively upon opfposite sidesbf sai shaft; and-'means normally engaging said third wheel to turn with said shaft; whereby said trays may b'e contemporaneously lowered, and tilted in one direction, by turning movement of said shaft,

and be tilted in the opposite direction by relative movement of said third wheel on said shaft.

- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto ,y

signed my name at Frenchtown, New Jersey,

this twentieth day of June, 1927.

,o WILLIAM EIN-NEY HILLPOT. 

